Calibrachoa plant named ‘Sunbelapri’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Sunbelapri’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; dense and bushy form; vigorous growth habit; freely branching and flowering plant habit; long flowering period; apricot-colored flowers with red orange-colored centers and venation; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Sunbelapri’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunbelapri’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new uniform Calibrachoa cultivars with attractive and unique flower coloration.

The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in April, 2003 of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number R10, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number P6, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since September, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Calibrachoa has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunbelapri’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunbelapri’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; dense         and bushy form.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching and flowering plant habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Apricot-colored flowers with red orange-colored centers and         venation.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more compact than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have smaller flowers than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have light pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of ‘Sunbel-Apu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,385. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Sunbel-Apu’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were shorter than plants of         ‘Sunbel-Apu’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger flowers than plants         of ‘Sunbel-Apu’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had longer peduncles than         plants ‘Sunbel-Apu’.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Sunbel-Apu’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Sunbel-Apu’ had yellowish         pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunbelapri’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Sunbelapri’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the late spring and early summer in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C. Plants had been growing for about four months when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Sunbelapri’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number R10, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number P6, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three weeks at             20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, fleshy; light brown in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright, outwardly spreading and             mounding plant habit; dense and bushy form. Freely branching             with about seven primary lateral branches developing per             plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development.             Vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 18.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 39.6 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 24.1 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 7 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to outward.         -   Texture.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 146B overlain with close to 200A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 6 mm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: Close to 137B.             Developing foliage, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully             expanded foliage, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 145A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Close             to 137D; venation, close to 145A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.3 mm. Diameter: About 1.3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from upper leaf axils. Freely flowering habit with             usually about 57 flowers per plant at one time. Flowers face             upright or outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—Not detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa             initiate and develop flowers about three to four weeks after             planting. Long flowering period; flowering commences             naturally during the spring and plants flower continuously             throughout the summer until late autumn in Japan.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant. Flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 2.6 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 8 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Tube diameter.—About 1.9 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: About 2.2 cm.             Diameter: About 6.1 mm. Color: Close to 37A; venation, close             to 200A.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.2 cm. Petal width: About 1.6 cm. Petal shape:             Spatulate. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin: Entire. Petal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:             Pubescent. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close             to 48B; towards the throat, close to N34A; venation, close             to N34A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to 49B;             venation, close to 187A. Petal, fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 29B; towards the throat, close to N34A; venation,             close to 34A; color becoming closer to 29D with development.             Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Between 27B to 37B;             venation, close to 189A. Throat: Close to 14A; venation,             close to 145A. Tube: Close to 1D; venation, close to 187A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About 7.1             mm to 10.2 mm. Sepal width: About 2.7 mm. Sepal shape:             Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color,             immature and mature, upper surface: Close to 137B. Color,             immature and mature, lower surface: Close to 137B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm.             Angle: Upright to outward. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146B overlain with close             to 200A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per             flower. Stamen length: About 11 mm to 13.4 mm. Anther shape:             Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 1.4 mm by 1.7 mm. Anther             color: Close to 9C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 1C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 1.2 cm. Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma             shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to             145A. Ovary color: Close to 145B. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to     Calibrachoa. 

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Sunbelapri’ as illustrated and described. 